In the eighth book in the New York Times bestselling Spy School series, Ben Ripley faces the Croatoan–a new evil organization that’s so mysterious, the only proof it exists is from the American Revolution. With SPYDER defeated, Ben Ripley is looking forward to his life getting back to normal, or as normal as possible when you’re a superspy in training. Until someone bombs the CIA conference … bombs the CIA conference room next door. To Ben’s astonishment, the attacker is none other than Erica Hale, the spy-in-training he respects more than any other.
His mission: prove Erica is not a double agent working against the US, locate the fabled colonial-era insurgent group that’s blackmailing her, figure out what their devious plot is, and thwart it.
But this time, Ben finds himself up against opponents he has never encountered before: his own friends. How can he succeed when he doesn’t even know who he can trust?
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This is the eighth book in the series, and it still manages to hold all of the action, excitement, and thrilling fun that every single book has had up until now. In other words, it’s good.
The evil group SPYDER has been defeated, and now, it’s time for Ben to lay back and relax. Well, that was his plan until the CIA conference rooms are bombed. It doesn’t take long to figure out that the attack was actually aimed at him and was at the hands of no one else than one of his own friends. While this causes more than a little inner conflict, he doesn’t have time to ponder as not only his life, but those of his parents are suddenly at stake. A new evil has emerged, one that dates back to the beginning of US history…and he’s the only one who can stop them.
I was sure that with the defeat of SPYDER, the series would be nearing it’s end, but the author has proven that thought completely wrong. This book does take a sudden twist with the series up to now, and that…young readers…is a good thing. There are thrills, there are ‘edge-of-the-seat’ moments, bombs explode, dives from the sky shoot the adrenalin levels beyond the clouds, danger lurks around every corner, and secrets are thicker than mud. It’s fast paced and non-stop action. And that’s not all.
This book also incorporates a bit of history and takes a look at the first towns founded in the US. I had to smile and appreciated the way the author ‘discovers’ the solution to the disappearing colony of Roanoke and incorporates a few facts on the sidelines. But then, this tale (like the others) dances wonderfully along reality’s border and crosses over into exciting adventure, which of course, is not possible, but does set dreams free and let readers wish they could take on a secret organization themselves. To say that the characters are fun is an understatement, and this book adds a delicious twist.
Anyone who loves amazing spy stories and non-stop excitement is going to enjoy this series. And this book, although it’s already number eight, does not come close to disappointing. The author has found the perfect recipe, followed it to a ‘t’, and come up with another flawless adventure.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the adventure immensely.
When someone fires at the CIA building while Ben Ripley is in it, he assumes it was an attack on the CIA in general. It quickly becomes clear that Ben was the target, and the person who attacked the CIA is his friend Erica Hale. Despite the evidence, Ben doesn’t think that she has turned into a traitor. The CIA, however, wants her arrested no matter what. Is Ben right? If so, can he clear his friend?
The series has turned a bit of a corner with this book, but longtime fans will not be disappointed in the slightest. The book is still packed with plenty of action and a mystery that keeps throwing us surprises until we reach the climax. Meanwhile, I laughed multiple times as I was reading the book. I enjoy studying early American history, so I enjoyed the fact that the storyline delved into that period a bit. The characters are as strong as ever and grow some again here. The series is aimed at middle graders, but it is on my auto buy list – for me. If you are looking for a fun, action packed book for any reader in your life, this is the book to get.